Canoe Trail has been helping people develop their adventurous side for almost a decade teaching canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding as well as expeditions and trips to destinations off the beaten track.
Each year we help lots of people to develop new skills from novice to intermediate and onto more advanced skills with coached courses, qualifications and experience on white water.
We also get some customers who embrace their adventurous side and join our coaching team of professional instructors for our best of Scotland canoeing week, canoeing the mighty Yukon River and exploring Ontario’s Algonquin and Temagami wilderness areas. These expeditions or longer canoe paddling trips are true ‘bucket list’ destinations with the peace of mind that our instructors are leading the trip and also coaching you to improve your skills.
So you can really move from introductory canoe and camp trips with us to 440 mile 18 day canoe expeditions. You can also opt one to one or personalised canoe or kayak coaching on moving water, for specific challenges or simply to learn a specific technique. Our team have years of experience, racing, exploring and competing at the highest levels, nationally and internationally and are used to making these skills accessible for all.
Coached canoeing, SUP and kayaking tuition and courses
Canoe Trail staff are qualified in British Canoeing coaching and leadership qualifications from core elements to moving water (white water) as well as different disciplines including white water kayak, moderate water canoeing (white water to Grade 2/3), Advanced white water in canoe and kayak as well as stand up paddle boarding (SUP).
We can also provide specific coaching for different elements of paddling with canoes, kayaks and SUP’s such as:
- Rescue techniques for independent paddling
- Rolling clinic for kayaks lovers!
- Better Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) skills
- Training for adventure and extreme races
- Training for charity challenges
- Introduction to moving water
- British Canoeing Start Qualification
- British Canoeing Discover Qualification
- British Canoeing Explore Qualification
Bucket List Canoe Expeditions
The ‘Best of Scotland’ Canoe Expedition / Trip
The Best of Scotland Canoe Expedition is a fantastic week based from our private game lodge near Aviemore in the Highlands. You fly into Inverness where our team will meet you for the week ahead. We start of on Loch., home of Ospreys and reacquaint ourselves with the fundamental skills for the week ahead. As the course progresses we explore different iconic rivers and lochs building on skills as we go. Destinations for the week usually include a couple of days exploring the River Spey and paddling the infamous Washing Machine, Loch Ness and River ness, Beauley Gorge and wild camping in Wester Ross on Loch Maree. The Loch Maree trip was made by Queen Victoria in the late 1800’s and is a pristine and wild location.
The Best of Scotland Canoe Expedition includes all accommodation, ground transport, breakfast and evening meals and even a Scottish banquet(well Haggis and all the trimmings) with a wee dram.
Yukon Canoe Expedition
Canoe Trail are no strangers to the mighty Yukon River with Rich having made 7 different trips and expeditions there over the past decade. The team have led the Yukon canoe expedition from Whitehorse to Dawson City (440 miles) guiding different groups and sharing the goldrush history and amazing wildlife with exceptional local knowledge. The team guide our customers, relevant novice paddlers down the stunning river sharing Lake Laberge, Little Salmon, Five Finger Rapids, Rink Rapids, Hootalinqua, Fort Selkirk, and of course lots of little historic sights. Each year we see wide selection of wildlife including Moose, Grizzlies, black bear, Lynx, eagles, beavers and wolves.
Algonquin and Temagami Canoe Expeditions
Our other Canada Canoe Expedition heads to the East side where we explore Ontario spending two weeks paddling Algonquin Park and Temagami’s ancient forests. We meet in Toronto and travel up to Algonquin Park’s massive lake and river system to spend 4 days exploring the stunning wilderness area, camping and travelling as the pioneers would have. Algonquin Park is home to moose, loons, otters, beavers and black bear so there is plenty to see. We then head North to Temagami where we will be hosted by Hap and Andrea Wilson at Cabin Falls Eco Lodge. Hap, the former ranger and author of 14 guide books will be our guide with Andrea to explore by canoe, swim and hike the ancient Temagami trails. We fly in and out by float plane which adds to the adventure experience.
Other Trips and Expeditions From Canoe Trail
River Tweed Canoe Trip
A fantastic 3 day canoeing trip with plenty of opportunities to learn new skills on faster water. This trip also allows time for developing traditional skills such as poling, lining and tracking and solid white water skills in a canoe. Set on the Scottish Borders the Tweed and Twill are classic canoe rivers with reasonable flow and some great features. We wild camp on the river bank on one of the nights.
River Severn Canoe Trip
Another classic canoe trip starting near the UNESCO heritage site at Iron Bridge the trip passes the remnants of our industrial age past as well as hermits caves, riverside pubs and rolling countryside. There is an opportunity to play on Jackfield Rapids along the way. Another brilliant trip to develop your skills with Canoe Trail’s expert team of instructors.
Jurassic Coast Sea Kayaking Trip
Switch your canoe for a sea kayak and join us on this 3 day sea kayaking trip where we explore some of the UNESCO heritage Jurassic Coast and subject to weather, tides and ability of the group we will explore different locations including Poole Harbour, Old Harry, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Brownsea Island. We also aim to include our ever popular Needles sea kayaking element where we cross to the Isle of Wight to explore the Needles.